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Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

Bill Simmons took some quotes from Game of Thrones and took a storyline from this year's NBA Free Agency. This is what was said about the Pacers...

"If I die, weep for me."
"You'll be dead. How will you know?"
"I'll know."

Remember the 48 hours after Game 3 of the Miami-Indiana series, when it seemed like the frisky Pacers were on the verge of (a) killing the LeBron/Wade era, and (b) sneaking into the Finals? That was fun. Now they're building around three overpaid starters — Danny Granger (two years, $27.1 million), Hibbert (four years, $58 million), George Hill (five years, $40 million) — a bunch of overpaid role players ($21 million next year for David West, Ian Mahinmi, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green???) and one possible blue-chipper (Paul George, who absolutely stunk in the 2012 playoffs). Does Hallmark make "Congrats on locking down the no. 6 seed for the next few years" cards?

I tend to agree with Simmons on this considering how much better the East is becoming, but yet it is the same team with a slightly better bench than last season and they carried us to the three seed. Again, I think it all boils down to PG tapping into his potential that will set us above everyone not named Miami or Chicago.

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Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

#3 comes from the fact that other teams are improving. People are already assuming the nets will be a top 4 seed. Also people believe that the condensed schedule benefited the Pacers and a normal schedule will not see that same record replicated.

Not saying I believe all that but the is the perception right now I believe.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

Bill Simmons took some quotes from Game of Thrones and took a storyline from this year's NBA Free Agency. This is what was said about the Pacers...

I tend to agree with Simmons on this considering how much better the East is becoming, but yet it is the same team with a slightly better bench than last season and they carried us to the three seed. Again, I think it all boils down to PG tapping into his potential that will set us above everyone not named Miami or Chicago.

I too agree with him. The Pacers only real hope of improving is for PG to turn into a star this year. If he stays at the same level, they lose spots to teams who did improve their starters. Our bench is a notch better but that won't help when it comes down to crunch time in the playoffs. The superstars just pummel our nonstars.... I disagee with him about Hibbert, I don't think he is over paid at all. Look at what Brook Lopez got. I agree that Granger is WAY overpaid for someone who is sliding a bit every year and still is still a one dimensional player. Hill may be overpaid but not by much and another team would have made him cost that much. I like that he tied up for five years and we can see what he can really do........

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

I agree that the Pacers "big 3" are overpaid, mainly Hill. Granger and Hibbert are probably a little overpriced but not severe plus it's Indiana, to have players like that you got to overspend.

West really distortes his other point since he makes about half of that 21 million, which yeah is probably too much, but again proves the point Indy has to spend extra to attract free agents, plus he only has 1 more year anyway.

I think the Pacers will be anywhere from 3-6 seed but overall it won't be enough to ever make the Finals cause Miami will always be in the way.

"It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."

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Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

All I'm saying here is that every single year reporters talk about how all of these other teams have improved significantly, yet they never make the leap. I think the Nets will the a replicate of the Wizards back when their 'big three' was finally healthy again. Yeah, they had bigger problems than on the court, but they weren't good on the court either. Then you see that the Hawks and Sixers have lost talent while Boston lost one of their centerfolds, and all the while the Knicks aren't going to do anything more than last year and on top of that they've lost Lin.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

I too agree with him. The Pacers only real hope of improving is for PG to turn into a star this year. If he stays at the same level, they lose spots to teams who did improve their starters. Our bench is a notch better but that won't help when it comes down to crunch time in the playoffs. The superstars just pummel our nonstars.... I disagee with him about Hibbert, I don't think he is over paid at all. Look at what Brook Lopez got. I agree that Granger is WAY overpaid for someone who is sliding a bit every year and still is still a one dimensional player. Hill may be overpaid but not by much and another team would have made him cost that much. I like that he tied up for five years and we can see what he can really do........

Granger is not one dimensional. On offense he has many different ways of scoring, whether it's getting to the line, posting up smaller forwards or using his range. And on defense he does a decent job of guarding 3's, can defend some 4's and 2's. I agree his shooting was way off last year, but his defense wasn't bad, and yeah, he can't stop Lebron, but name a player in the league that can...

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

All I'm saying here is that every single year reporters talk about how all of these other teams have improved significantly, yet they never make the leap. I think the Nets will the a replicate of the Wizards back when their 'big three' was finally healthy again. Yeah, they had bigger problems than on the court, but they weren't good on the court either. Then you see that the Hawks and Sixers have lost talent while Boston lost one of their centerfolds, and all the while the Knicks aren't going to do anything more than last year and on top of that they've lost Lin.

Same story, different year.

I'll agree with some of what you said, but disagree with other things.

I think the Hawks will be very interesting. Will they be more versatile in what they do? That is what I want to know.

The Sixers - I'm just not sure of anything about them.

I think the Nets will be good if they remain healthy, and I don't think Boston lost much at all. Ray Allen was by far the easiest of their "names" to replace. He had already been moved to the bench. I think that is where he belonged last year, though.

The best thing the Knicks did was to retain Mike Woodson. If he can get his big guns to buy into playing defense for an entire season, they can be pretty darn good. If not, then not so good.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

Hibbert is not overpayed. Before I am burnt at the stake, hear me out. He was a HUGE reason why we won so many games. Centers are at an all time premium. We HAD to keep him. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Max deal or not.

"What you do is so loud, I can't hear what you say" -Andrew Luck
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Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

Yeah, I think Boston will be better than the other teams mentioned, on our par. But AT SOME POINT (lol) Pierce and KG have to start slowing down. And I think this is the year.

PP is already noticeably slowing down. Its just a matter of how fast. Somehow KG played some of his best basketball ever last year. Seemed like he couldnt miss. I think he is better longer than Pierce will be. I still think Boston is getting worse by the day though. Its just a matter of time

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

Granger is not one dimensional. On offense he has many different ways of scoring, whether it's getting to the line, posting up smaller forwards or using his range. And on defense he does a decent job of guarding 3's, can defend some 4's and 2's. I agree his shooting was way off last year, but his defense wasn't bad, and yeah, he can't stop Lebron, but name a player in the league that can...

Granger is one dimensional. He can't drive to the hoop. He is most a spot of three shooter and his defense has always been sketchy at best and apalling at worst. No, he can't guard James but you could name just about any small forward in the league and he can't guard them either.....

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

Those contracts look cheap compared to the days when we were paying Dunleavy, Murphy, Posey, Ford and Tinsley for sitting. Then there was that 20M year we threw at a guy who averaged 40 games a year. Our contracts now look like a steal.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

PP is already noticeably slowing down. Its just a matter of how fast. Somehow KG played some of his best basketball ever last year. Seemed like he couldnt miss. I think he is better longer than Pierce will be. I still think Boston is getting worse by the day though. Its just a matter of time

You are forgetting that they added Terry and Lee and they get a couple of players back from injuries. That makes them better than they were last year....

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

The Pacers have moved forward and will be right there with Boston, Chicago and Miami. Miami will not be any better next year and might be worse. Now, we will still lose to Miami unless we see significant jumps from at least two of our younger players.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

The biggest question is how effective DWade is going to be next year. Every year that passes is another year where his athleticism wanes....which is all his game really is. His time is short and it's a shame he's not a couple years older.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

The biggest question is how effective DWade is going to be next year. Every year that passes is another year where his athleticism wanes....which is all his game really is. His time is short and it's a shame he's not a couple years older.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

The Pacers have moved forward and will be right there with Boston, Chicago and Miami. Miami will not be any better next year and might be worse. Now, we will still lose to Miami unless we see significant jumps from at least two of our younger players.

The Heat added Allen and Lewis and didn't lose anything. How can they not be better?

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

The Heat added Allen and Lewis and didn't lose anything. How can they not be better?

Oh yeh. I can't believe I forgot about Allen. I guess I agree with that. But Wade has logged a lot of miles and Allen too. The Heat are at the tail end of their dynasty period and if Dwight goes to LA, it's probably over.

Re: Simmons Game of Thrones/NBA FA Article

Granger is not one dimensional. On offense he has many different ways of scoring, whether it's getting to the line, posting up smaller forwards or using his range. And on defense he does a decent job of guarding 3's, can defend some 4's and 2's. I agree his shooting was way off last year, but his defense wasn't bad, and yeah, he can't stop Lebron, but name a player in the league that can...